This weekend is the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. August 15, 16 and 17, 1969.
I have spent my whole life wishing I'd been old enough to go. I turned 2 years old that summer so going to Woodstock was out. If I'd been 16 or 17 years old, though, I would have been ALL OVER THAT.
I always wanted to just talk to somebody who went. One of the very first things I asked my husband when I met him was, "Did you go to Woodstock?" Ha!
The Woodstock Music & Art Fair at Max Yasgur's pasture in upstate New York was billed as 3 days of peace and music but by the end of that weekend, it had defined a generation and landmarked an era.
The largest rock concert ever. Three days of music and camping out under the stars. Some took months to plan the trip, save money, make up lies for parents, bosses and loved ones, round up their buddies and/or lovers and hit the road.
The officials in Bethel, NY were ready. They were confident they could control traffic, sanitation and medical emergencies. They were prepared.
They were told about 50,000 people were expected. Nearly half a million showed up!
32 acts performed, including one of my favorites, John Sebastian, formerly of The Lovin' Spoonful.
There were two deaths that weekend but also two births!
They really did come in peace. Only 109 people were arrested. All but four of those were arrested for drugs. There was no instance of violence at all, according to New York State police records.
They made love and they made history.
This is one of my favorite pictures of Woodstock.
I think this one photo speaks louder than any of the thousands of stories told or written about that magical weekend. It's the message of love passed on to all generations who came after them.
They were stardust, they were golden, they were at Woodstock.
Good article . You really are a part of Woodstock and will always be drawn to that era. My little hippi child. Love, Mama
ReplyDeleteThe couple in the picture is still together, which just makes me all melty. They were featured on the Vh1 special. My dad almost went to Woodstock, but the VW broke down. :-( He did see crazy groups like Frank Zappa.
ReplyDeleteFor a while there I thought it was in Woodstock, GA, I was what about 16 or 17. What can I say. I sort of thought I could go til I found out it was in New York. I was just in my own little world-- a country Georgia hippie driving through Atlanta, checking out the folks on 14th street and going to Piedmont Park where they had free concerts on Sundays.
ReplyDeleteBrandy - I saw that couple on the VH1 special!! Girl, I got all misty-eyed during their interview, too. I've always loved that picture but didn't know who they were!! It was great seeing that.
ReplyDeleteMs. Fiddlesticks (I don't even know your name!) - a little country girl hippie checking out the city hippies in Atlanta is hilarious to me. I will have to write about the Byron Pop Festival sometime, maybe next year at its 40th anniversary. My husband calls it the "Redneck Woodstock" but he and I BOTH were there, he was 17, I was 3. My folks just went to check out the hippies. Ha!